EBACUSTA'S 10 SIMPLE STEPS TO BECOMING A GREAT WRITER/REVIEWER ON FF.NET (OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER):

1. Don't flame. The review system is not here so we can bring down others' writing self-eestem. It's here so we can help the others on this site become better writers. Therefore, if you flame, it just means that you're jealous of the other writers talent. So if you feel the need to flame, get your butt of this site and go somewhere else.

2. Be creative. Don't just stick to the basics. Let your mind roam free and come up with every possible thing that could happen. Writing is about having fun and sharing it with others in the process. Be free when you do.

3. Don't be critical of a story because you didn't think of it first. That's just plain stupid, you jealous loser.

4. Don't steal ideas. Stealing ideas shows that you're lame, stupid, and have absolutely NO creativity. Rather, if you find an idea and something sprouts out of it, but basically has the primise of the same idea, don't just steal it. Ask if you can use the idea and if the writer says no, respect what they ask of you. I know I wouldn't like it if someone just up and stole MY ideas, and believe me, I've got lots of them! Of course if you're an absolute jerk with for no respect for others you'll do it anyway and then I'll have no respect for you.

5. Be open minded to constructive critism.- If you get constructive critism, you should try to take it gracefully. (I know this is something I need to work on in some cases.) Don't turn into a evil, weird person, because someone is trying to help make your writing better.

6. Don't JUST be a copycat.- It's one thing to have a few stories that are basically the same as others on the web, but make up some of your own ideas. BE CREATIVE! Come on people! That's what writing is all about!

7. Have a great time!- If someone doesn't like your story and chooses not to read it and tells you so, that's their loss. Don't hang over it. If the plot is interesting, and the story well written with an interesting summary, you'll get plenty of people who will read it. If you can't think of your own title maybe you shouldn't put the story on. "Someone please give me a title" unless that's your title and it deals with TK having problems writing or something doesn't cut it. Neither does "I suck at summeries." Summeries are easier to write than the story is. So come on. All you have to do is summerize your prolouge or first chapter into three lines. Besides, you should have more confiedence in your writing capabilities. I'll bet tons of you are capable writers that simply lack confidence.

8. a. There's more happiness in giving than recieving.- When you write the first chapter of a story and you get positive feedback that makes you happy no doubt. When people review you "recieve" good suggestions for your writing and ways you can improve (hopefully). This "recieving" makes you happy. But once you know people like it, doesn't it make you happier when you "give" a chapter to your readers? Doesn't it make you happy knowing that your readers will be happy you've updated? Can't you almost see the smiles on their faces? I know I can. So "give" more than you "recieve."

b. Don't fret- Don't get hung up over every single word reviewers say. Sure good reviews can make your day, while bad ones can ruin it, but don't let it all go to your head. If people like your story, good for them! Be glad! And if they don't get over it. At times, I know, harsh words can get us down, but the most important thing to remember is that, even if OTHERS don't like the story, you do. So finish it for yourself. Not necessarily for the reviews!

9. If you do get permission to use an idea, always give credit to the orginal author.- You didn't come up with the original idea of which your copying. Someone else did. Therefore to claim that you came up with it would be lying and that would be wrong. Don't do that. The author that came up with it deserves the credit anyway.

10. A picture's worth a 1,000 words.- When you write, you should aim to paint pictures with your words. One picture tells a story, but many tells a better one. Aren't you on here to write goodstories? So make your chapters longer than 1,000 words. The longer they are the more detail your story cangive and therefore the more understanding your readers will have.

P.S. Don't have absurd anounts of space in between lines. Two presses of the enter button is enough. It's annoying when you have big white spaces in between.